Computer World

For the computer magazine, see Computerworld.
Computer World
Studio album by Kraftwerk
Released 11 May 1981 (1981-05-11)
Recorded 1979–81
Studio Kling Klang Studio
(Düsseldorf, Germany)
Genre
Length 34:21
Label
Producer
Kraftwerk chronology
The Man-Machine
(1978)		 Computer World
(1981)		 Electric Café
(1986)
Singles from Computer World
  1. "Pocket Calculator"
    Released: May 1981
  2. "Computer Love"
    Released: July 1981
  3. "Computerwelt"
    Released: 1981
  4. "Numbers"
    Released: 1981
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Drowned in Sound10/10[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Mojo[4]
Q[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]
Select4/5[7]
Sputnikmusic4.5/5[8]
Uncut[9]
The Village VoiceB[10]

Computer World (German: Computerwelt) is the eighth studio album by German electronic music band Kraftwerk, released on 10 May 1981.[11] The album peaked at number fifteen on the UK Albums Chart.[12] It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 12 February 1982 for shipments in excess of 60,000 copies.[13]

The album deals with the themes of the rise of computers within society. In keeping with the album's concept, Kraftwerk showcased their music on an ambitious world tour and issued several different versions of the single "Pocket Calculator" in different languages: namely, German ("Taschenrechner"), French ("Mini Calculateur") and Japanese ("Dentaku", or 電卓). A fifth version, in Italian ("Mini Calcolatore"), was lip-synched to on Italian television in 1981.[14] The compositions are credited to Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, and Karl Bartos. As was the case with the two previous albums, Computer World was released in both German- and English-language editions. The title of the final track, "It's More Fun to Compute", is in English in all releases, as it is based on the slogan "It's more fun to compete!", which could be seen on old pinball machines. There are also some minor differences in the mixes used on English- and German-language releases.

Computer World was listed by Pitchfork Media as the forty-fourth best album of the 1980s.[15] Pitchfork Media also listed the track "Computer Love" as the 53rd best song of the 1980s.[16]Slant Magazine placed the album at number twenty-five on its list of "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s".[17] Rolling Stone named it the tenth greatest EDM album of all time in 2012.[18]

Singles
"Computer World" excerpt
Excerpt from the "Computer World" title track.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The track "Computer Love" was released as a 7-inch single in the UK, in July 1981, backed with "The Model", from the group's previous album The Man-Machine. The single reached number 36 in the charts. In December 1981 the two songs were reissued as a double A-side 12-inch single, and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in February 1982, although "The Model" received the most airplay.

"Computerwelt" was remixed in 1982 as a dance version with additional bass and percussion sounds. It was released in January 1982 as a twelve-inch vinyl single only in Germany. The original track was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1982.[19] "Computer World" was also chosen by the BBC for use in the titles of their UK computer literacy project, The Computer Programme.

Artwork

The cover is probably a stylized Hazeltine 1500 which was just a cursor-addressable ASCII terminal and not a computer.[20]

The inner sleeve artwork, created by Emil Schult and photographed by Günter Fröhling, depicts four slightly robotic-looking mannequins representing the band members and engaging in studio activities (performing, recording, mixing), similar to the artwork in the previous album, The Man-Machine, also by Fröhling. In two photos, the mannequin representing Karl Bartos is seen playing a Stylophone, an instrument which featured on the track Pocket Calculator.

Legacy

Kraftwerk's production methods are credited with influencing those of hip hop music. In addition to the sampling used in hip hop and the most prominent influence, the motorik beat, songs such as "Numbers" are likely sources of inspiration for songs such as "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliott.

Track listing

Side one
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Computer World" ("Computerwelt")
 5:05
2. "Pocket Calculator" ("Taschenrechner")
  • Hütter
  • Schult
  • Hütter
  • Bartos
 4:55
3. "Numbers" ("Nummern") 
  • Hütter
  • Schneider
  • Bartos
 3:19
4. "Computer World 2" ("Computerwelt 2") 
  • Hütter
  • Schneider
  • Bartos
 3:21
Side two
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
5. "Computer Love" ("Computerliebe")
  • Hütter
  • Schult
  • Hütter
  • Bartos
 7:15
6. "Home Computer" ("Heimcomputer")Schneider
  • Hütter
  • Schneider
  • Bartos
 6:17
7. "It's More Fun to Compute"   
  • Hütter
  • Schneider
  • Bartos
 4:13

Personnel

The original 1981 sleeve notes are relatively unspecific regarding roles, merely listing all the equipment suppliers and technicians under the heading "Hardware" and the various other people involved, such as photographers, as "Software".[21] By contrast, the 2009 remastered edition notes list the performer credits as the following:[22]

Kraftwerk
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1981) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[23] 51
Austrian Albums Chart[24] 14
German Albums Chart[25] 7
New Zealand Albums Chart[26] 28
Swedish Albums Chart[27] 27
UK Albums Chart[12] 15
US Top LPs & Tape[28] 72
US Soul LPs[28] 32

References

  1. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Computer World – Kraftwerk". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Power, Chris (14 October 2009). "Album Review: Kraftwerk – Computer World: Remastered". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-857-12595-8.
  4. ↑ Snow, Mat (November 2009). "Gut Vibrations". Mojo. London (192): 110. ISSN 1351-0193.
  5. ↑ "Kraftwerk: Computer World". Q. London (104): 123. May 1995.
  6. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 468–69. ISBN 0-743-20169-8.
  7. ↑ Harrison, Andrew (June 1995). "Kraftwerk: Radio Activity / Man Machine / Computer World / The Mix". Select. London (60).
  8. ↑ H., Andrew (15 February 2005). "Kraftwerk – Computer World". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Cavanagh, David (16 October 2009). "Uncut Reviews: Kraftwerk – Reissues". Uncut. London. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2 November 1981). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  11. ↑ NME. London. 17 April 1982. p. 39. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. 1 2 "1981 Top 40 Official Albums Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. 23 May 1981. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. 12 February 1982. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Mini Calcolatore" on "Discoring" on YouTube
  15. ↑ "Top 100 Albums of the 1980s". Pitchfork Media. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  16. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9700-the-200-best-songs-of-the-1980s/8/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Slant Magazine. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "The 30 Greatest EDM Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "24th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations". Billboard. 94 (3): 90. 23 January 1982. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  20. ↑ http://ask.metafilter.com/18539/Computer-World-cover
  21. ↑ Computer World (LP liner notes). Kraftwerk. EMI. 1981. EMC 3370.
  22. ↑ Computer World (remastered CD liner notes). Kraftwerk. Mute Records. 2009. CDSTUMM 307.
  23. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 170. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  24. ↑ "Kraftwerk – Computerwelt" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Kraftwerk, Computerwelt" (in German). charts.de. Media Control. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Kraftwerk – Computer World". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  27. ↑ "Kraftwerk – Computer World". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  28. 1 2 "Computer World – Kraftwerk | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
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